The upcoming series will include 18 Gold Card events
The 16th season of the Mid-States Poker Tour (MSPT) is coming to an end, with its final stop taking place at Running Aces Casino in Minnesota. The Winter Poker Classic, set for December 2–14, will feature 18 Gold Card events and serve as the last chance for players to secure Player of the Year (POY) points. The stop also brings the tour full circle, returning to the state where the MSPT first launched.
All eyes will be on Umut Ozturk, the two-time defending POY champion, who currently leads the standings. Ozturk has the opportunity to make history with a third consecutive title, but Jake Long and Josh Reichard remain close behind. With such a tight race, the final event could determine who walks away with the season’s ultimate accolade.
The $1,110 buy-in Main Event will headline the festival, boasting a $500,000 guaranteed prize pool. To avoid schedule conflicts with the WSOP Paradise and WPT World Championship, the tournament kicks off early in the series, with starting flights scheduled for December 4–6. Survivors from each flight will return on December 7 to play down to a winner and close out the MSPT season in style.
Beyond the main attraction, several side events offer competitive opportunities and additional POY points. Highlights include Event #4: $300 Pot-Limit Omaha Monster Stack, Event #13: $300 Epic Stack NLH, and Event #15: $400 Mini Main Event. Players looking for variety can also enjoy special events like the $400 Tag Team Kickoff and the $200 Ladies Monster Stack NLH, though these won’t contribute to POY standings.
With 18 events across nearly two weeks, the Running Aces stop promises to deliver a strong finish to an action-packed season. Between the big guarantees, tight POY race, and Minnesota roots, MSPT Season 16 is set to wrap up with plenty of excitement on and off the felt.
